Kentucky Derby Draws 16 Million to NBC

STAMFORD, CONN.—NBC Sports’ said 16 million people on average watched Saturday’s 141st Kentucky Derby, citing Nielsen numbers. Viewership was up 4 percent over last year, when 15.3 million people tuned in to see California Chrome’s take the golden trophy.

Viewership peaked at 17.9 million from 6:30-6:45 p.m. Eastern when American Pharoah crossed the finish line.

Saturday’s Kentucky Derby is the most-watched Saturday afternoon sporting event since NBC’s telecast of the AFC Divisional Playoff on Jan. 10, 2015, when it had 34 million viewers for the Baltimore-New England playoff.

Other data for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby:

The Kentucky Derby (6:16-7:02 p.m. ET) posted a 9.6/23 national rating – up 2 percent from a 9.4/22 last year.

This is the fifth time in seven years (2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015) that NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage averaged more than 15 million viewers. From 1991-2008, Kentucky Derby average viewership did not reach 15 million.

Saturday’s pre-race coverage, which included the 5 p.m. ET show open narrated by Kentuckian Ashley Judd averaged 8.8 million viewers – third-highest for a pre-race show since 1992.

The “sNBC Sports Live Extra“ live stream of the Kentucky Derby—which required authentication for the first time—delivered 221,000 unique visitors, up 12 percent from last year (198,000), and the largest-ever Kentucky Derby audience on “NBC Sports Live Extra”. Coverage included four exclusive camera angles (grandstand, paddock, overhead, and jockey), bonus analysis from NBC Sports commentators, and replays and footage from the key “Road to the Kentucky Derby” prep races.

NBCSN’s live weekday coverage from Churchill Downs, beginning with Wednesday’s Kentucky Derby Draw Show, posted viewership increases each day with an average viewership increase of 32 percent from Wednesday through Friday.

Louisville, the home of the Kentucky Derby, topped the metered markets with a 35 rating/65 share (top 20 markets listed below).

In two weeks, Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah will take the next step in his quest to become the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years, since Affirmed in 1978. NBC Sports Group coverage of The Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, begins Friday, May 15 at 3 p.m. on NBCSN. NBC presents The Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 16 at 4:30 p.m. with coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. on NBCSN. All times Eastern.